How Long After You Are Married Can You Get An Annulment?

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As an annulment lawyer in Singapore, I am often asked by my clients and potential clients: how long after you are married can you get an annulment?

How long after you are married can you get an annulment? – Voidable Marriages

Many people have the misconception that you can get an annulment in Singapore only within the first 3 years of marriage. This is true if your marriage is voidable under the following circumstances:

Either party did not validly consent to the marriage;
One party suffered from a communicable sex disease at the time of the marriage and the other party did not know; and
The wife was pregnant by some other man at the time of the marriage and the husband did not know.

However, if you are going on the basis of your spouse’s wilful refusal to consummate the marriage, or your spouse’s incapacity to consummate the marriage, there is no time limit.

How long after you are married can you get an annulment? – Void Marriages

In addition, if you are voiding a marriage that is void, there is no time limit.

For instance, a child marriage that proceeded without a special marriage license. While it is rare in Singapore, it is common in undeveloped countries and even in some developed countries.

For instance, more than 167,000 young people under the age of 17 were married in 38 states in the US. Most states in the US do not set a minimum age for marriage. In some states like New Hampshire, children as young as 13 are allowed to marry with parental and judicial consent.

If a child were to get married in Singapore without a special marriage license, the marriage is void and there is no time limit as to how long one can get an annulment after marriage.

See: Charlotte Alter, “Child Marriage Survivor: I Was Introduced to Him in the Morning and Handed Over That Night”, TIME, 6 June 2017

How long after you are married can you get an annulment? If you have more questions on this topic, do not hesitate to contact us today!